Attachment for invalid-beds.



E. B. AUGUSTINE.

ATTACHMENT FOR INVALID BEDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21.1918- Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

WITNESSES M E 7W ATTORNEY m: nouns runs co. rnnmumou wAsHINGmN. n.

UNITED STATES PATENT onmon.

EMILY BREWSTER AUGUSTINE, OF LISBON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LOUELLA G.BREWSTER,

' OF LISBON, OHIO.

ATTACHMENT FOR INVALID-BEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1918. Serial No. 218,456.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILY BJAUGUSTINE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lisbon, in the county of Columb-iana and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Attachment for Invalid-Beds, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to attach ments for invalid beds, and itsobject is to provide an attachment to be used in connection with aninvalid bed whereby a patient may be lifted from the bed when, for anyreason, it is desired to change the bed clothing or bedding, and alsowhereby a patient may lift himself or herself to a sitting positionwithout the necessity of help from an attendant.

The invention comprises standards, one for the head end and the otherfor the foot end of the bed, these standards being of telescopingconstruction, and each having at the upper end a cross bar withreceptacles for extensible poles designed to be arranged on oppositesides of the bed lengthwise of the latter. One portion of eachtelescoping pole has rings thereon for the passage of cords which, atone end, support a sheet of flexible fabric, such as canvas, and at theother end the cords are grouped and carried within reach of the patientso that when desired, the patient may lift himself to a sittingposition, or lower himself to a realming position if he already besitting up.

-There is also provided another sheet of canvas, or some similar fabric,having straps terminating in hooks arranged to engage over the poles, sothat the patient may be supported while the bed is moved to one side foraccess in order to renew the bedding, and if need be, the mattress.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with thefurther understandin that, while the drawing shows a practica? form ofthe invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawing but may be changed and modified so long assuch changes and modifications come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the attachment appliedto a bed;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the upper ends of the standards orposts, and one of the polessupported by the cross bars at the tops ofthe posts;

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section through one of the posts orstandards at the junction of the body of the post and the telescopingmember thereof.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a bed or cot 1, which may beconsidered as following the usual construction.

There are provided two posts or standards 2, each composed of an uprighthollow memher with an extension 3 telescoping into the upper end of thepost 2. At the lower end, each post has a foot composed of two members 4and 5 held to the post by a bolt or screw 6, so that these members maybe arranged in right angular relation to form an extended support forthe post, or they. may be moved into longitudinal matching relation forpacking or storage. One end 7 of the member 5 of the foot is shorterthan the other end, while the ends of the member 4 may be as long as theshorter end of the member 5. By making the end 7 relatively short, andwith the post 2 close to the head or foot of the bed, as the case maybe, the space occupied by the foot is mostly underneath the bed, withthe end 7 projecting unobtrusively beyond the bed.

It will be observed that the foot portion consists of a fixed member 4.,and a movable member 5, the fixed member extending out from the post anequal distance at each side, while the movable member, which is movablein a horizontal plane, extends from opposite sides of the post atunequal distances.

The telescoping section 3 of the post is provided with a longitudinalseries of notches or openings 8, while the other mem-- ber of the posthas a set screw 9 to enter in one of the notches 8, and thereby hold thetelescoping section 3 fixedly in any desired adjusted position in thebody of the post 2. Each post has at the upper end of the extension 3 across bar 10 carrying a. series of stirrups 11 arranged lengthwise ofthe bar. There are also provided poles 12, each having an extensiblesection 13 telescoping into the body of the pole, and held in anydesired adjusted position by a set screw l t. The poles are carried bythe cross bars 10, each pole seating in the respective one of thestirrups 11 of the two posts 2. Each pole terminates in a head orenlargement 15, so that the pole, when seated in matching stirrnps 11,cannot easily escape therefrom, and yet may be readily placed therein.

Each pole. 12 is provided with a longitudinal series of rings 16,serving the same function as pulleys, through which there extends a cordor strand 17. In the particular arrangement shown, each pole and itsbody portion is provided with three rings or pulleys 16 spacedlengthwise of the body portion, two of these rings being near the endsof the body portion of the 'pole, and the other ring being intermediateof the first-named rings. The cords 17 carry a sheet 18 of some suitablefabric, such as canvas or the like, in overlying relation to the bed 1,and; the strands 17 at the ends remote from the sheet 18 are broughttogether and may be directed into convenient reach of a patient carriedby the sheet or support 18.

There is also provided another sheet 19 which may be of generalrectangular form, and this sheet is carried at the corners by straps 20each having at the ends remote from the sheet, a hook 21 of such sizeand shape as to readily hook over the pole-s12.

The sheet 18 may be utilized for supporting the body of the patient,with the sheet 19 supporting the legs of the patient,

this arrangement being valuable in case the; patient is suffering from abroken leg, or

some injury requiring that the leg portion of the body be kept more orless quiescent.

The sheets overlap each other transversely of the bed, and beingindependently supported by the framework, may be shifted toward or awayfrom each other, thus varying the effective length of the actualpatient-supporting portion. This ability to shift the sheets, allows thenurse'to accommodate the device to the size of the patient and bychanging the amount of overlapping and adjusting the back-supportingsheet, his comfort is suited as well.

In use, the standards 2 are placed at the head and foot of the bed aboutmid way of the width thereof, with the bars 10 extending parallel totheends of the bed. Then the poles 12 are lodged in any appropriate stirrup11, and the' sheets 18 and 19, or one of them, are suspended from thepoles12 in underriding relation to the patient, that is, between thepatient and the bed 1.

If for any reason, the patient should desire to lift himself into asitting position, this is easily accomplishedby graspingthe bunched endsof the strandsor cords 17', or suitable onesof'them, and by drawingonthese cords. If, for instance, the patient has a broken leg, thenit isdifficult to lift himself to the upright position without aid. Theinvention, in the respect mentioned, takes the place of anattendant, forthe patient may readily lift himself to the upright position through theaid of the strands 17 and sheet 18, without in any manner disturbing theinjured leg. If it be found necessary to move the bed from beneath thepatient, this is readily accomplished by the aid of the two sheets 18and 19, the sheet 19 permitting the support of the patient withoutmaterial lifting, and the sheet 18 being adjustable as to height, sothat while the bed is being changed, the patient may either recline orbe supported in a sitting position, as desired.

Ihe telescoping posts 2 provide for placing the cross bars 10 atdifferent heights to answer different conditions, and the arrangement ofthe stirrups 11 in series along the cross bars provides for placing thepoles l2 difl'erent distances apart, or for the use of a single polethrough the middle portion of the bed, since there is a stirrupimmediately over each post 2. For some reasons, it may be foundadvisable to use a single pole, or under other conditions, two poles maybe advantageous, either for lifting purposes as already described, orfer supporting purposes, as when it'isdesired to cover the bed, withmosquito netting or when it is desired to exclude light from thepatient.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1- 1. An attachment for invalid beds comprising twoposts, one for each end of the bed, each post having a foot portion forsupporting it and a telescoping section for varying the effective heightof the post, a cross bar on the upper end of each telescoping section, aseries of stirrups carried by each cross bar, and extensible polesadapted to the stirrupsand of a: length to eachlodge in correspondingstirrups of the cross bars.

2. 111 attachment for invalid beds comprising two posts each having afoot portion, and each post having a telescoping section at the endremote from the foot, a cross bar carried by the upper end of thetelescoping section of each post, a series of stirrups arrangedlengthwise of each cross bar, telescoping'poles adapted to the stirrupsfor connectingthe cross bars, andpatient supporting sheets, each" havingsuspending means for supporting the sheet from the poles.

An attachment for invalid; bedscomprising two' posts' each having afootportion, and eachpost having'a telescoping section at the en'di remotefrom= thefoot, a crossbar carried bythe upper 91ml of "the telescopingsection of each post, a series of' stirrups arranged lengthwise of; eachcross bar, telescoping poles adapted'to the-stirrups for connecting thecross-bars, patientsu-pportmg sheets, each having suspending means forsupporting the sheet from the poles, the suspension means for one of thesheets comprising cords connected to the side portion of the sheet, andrings arranged along the poles, with those ends of the cords remote fromthe sheet brought together for manipulation by the patient.

4. An attachment for invalid beds com prising a supporting framework forassociation with the bed, and sheets for carrying the patient and inturn independently suspended from the supporting framework, one of thesheets having its suspension means accessible to a patient supported bythe sheet, whereby the patient may be lifted to a sitting position orlowered to a reclining position without assistance, said sheetsoverlapping each other transversely of the bed, the extent of suchoverlapping being adjustable for the purpose set forth,

5. An attachment for invalid beds comprising a supporting framework, andpatient-supporting sheets each independently supported from theframework, one of the sheets having its suspension means accessible tosaid patient whereby the latter may lift himself to sitting position orlower himself to reclining position, said sheet loosely overlapping theother sheet transversely of the bed, both sheets being shiftablelongitudinally and independently along the framework whereby they may beaccommodated to the size and comfort of the patient.

6. An attachment for invalid beds comprising single'suppor'ting postsfor location at the opposite ends of the bed substantially in thelongitudinal center thereof, each post having a cross bar at the topextending toward each side of the bed, poles for location lengthwise ofthe bed, invalid supporting means connected to said poles, and a seriesof stirrups for the ends of the poles carried by and extended lengthwiseof the cross bars, whereby each pole may be seated in correspondingstirrups for locating the pole and the invalid supporting meansintermediate of the length of the bar or at different distances oneither side of the middle of the bar.

7. An attachment for invalid beds comprising posts, one for each end ofthe bed, each post having a foot portion for supporting it on the floorindependently of the bed, a cross bar on the upper end of each post, alon itudinal series of receptacles in spaced re ation one to the otheron each cross bar, and poles for engagement with matching receptacles ofthe cross bars, whereby either pole may connect the cross bars at anintermediate portion or on either side of the intermediate portion ofthe cross bars.

8. An attachment for invalid beds comprising posts, one for each end ofthe bed, each post having a foot portion for supporting it independentlyof the bed, and a telescoping part for varying the effective height ofthe post, a cross bar on the upper end of each telescoping'section, alongitudinal series of stirrups in spaced relation one to the other oneach cross bar, and extensible poles for engagment with matchingstirrups of the cross bars, whereby either pole may connect the crossbars at an intermediate portion or on either side of the intermediateortion of the cross bars, and each pole having a series of devicesthrough which cords may be passed and a sheet for the support of apatient hung from said cords.

9. An attachment for invalid beds comprising a supporting frameworkincluding longitudinal poles adapted to extend from one end of the bedto the other, a pair of patient-supporting sheets, said sheets looselyoverlapping one another intermediate of the length of the bed andtogether forming a single patient-supporting surface, straps havinghooks at their ends for suspending one of the sheets from the poles,cords for suspending the other sheet, and means provided on the polesfor supporting and guiding the cords.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMILY BREWSTER AUGUSTINE.

Witnesses:

J. C. BREWSTER, LOUELLA BREWSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

